‘Dr. Phil’ Tops Big Post-Sweep Syndie Rebound

By TVN Staff | December 11, 2018 | 12:23 p.m. ET.

Led by Dr. Phil, most of the top syndicated shows came roaring back from a soft holiday frame in the session ending Dec. 2. Phil was the biggest gainer among all strips, leaping 26% to a 2.9 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen rating and finishing first among the talkers for the 117th week in a row.

In access, Family Feud rebounded 17% to a 6.3, but nonetheless landed in a tie for second place among the game shows with Wheel of Fortune, which also accelerated 17%. Jeopardy lead the group with a 16% increase to a 6.4.

Magazines were on fire, with Inside Edition recovering 11% to a 3.1; Entertainment Tonight surging 20% to a 3.0; and Access growing 9% to a 1.2, tying TMZ, which rose 20%.

In addition, Daily Mail TV spiked 10% to 1.1, matching its season high and ranking ahead of Extra for the first time in nine months. Extra was heavily preempted by NBC’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center special and college football, but held its ground at a 1.0, while Page Six TV grew 17% to a 0.7.

Back in daytime, Ellen DeGeneres following first-place Dr. Phil, added 4% to a 2.4, and Live with Kelly and Ryan held firm at a 2.3. Right behind, Steve Harvey’s Steve and Maury rounded out the top five of the 14 talkers, tied at a fourth-place 1.4.

Sweep champion Judge Judy continued to overshadow everything else in syndication for the 18th week in a row, with a 3% advance to a chart-topping 7.6, which was 6% ahead of last year.

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Also of note, Judy companion court show Hot Bench climbed 4% to a 2.5 and was the No. 3 daytime program behind only Judy and Phil.

The week’s top-rated daytime talk shows in the women 25-54 demo were:

Dr. Phil (1.2, +9% from the week before)

EllenDeGeneres (1.1, unchanged)

Live with Kellyand Ryan (1.0, unchanged)

Maury (0.9, +13%)

Wendy Williams (0.8, unchanged)

Steve Wilkos (0.7, unchanged)

Steve (0.6 -14%)

In the household rating rankings that follow, % change is from the previous week; * indicates a new season-high rating; ** indicates a new season low; NC indicates no change from the previous week; NA mean not applicable.

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